In rotation: 7/26/18

Oxford, UK | Floating record store sets course for Oxford: A floating record store is set to drift into Oxfordshire this weekend. The Record Deck UK – a narrowboat selling new and second hand vinyl – is hoping to moor in Jericho, Oxford, between Isis lock and Hythe Bridge Street on Saturday. Assuming the boat runs to schedule, owner Luke Guildford is planning to open from 11am to 7pm, but is encouraging would-be customers to check their social media feeds closer to the time, as ‘delays to travelling can occur in boat world.’ He added: “It’s a floating record shop that travels England visiting towns, floating markets and canal & river festivals. “I mostly sell a mix of secondhand vinyl.”

Minneapolis, MN | Hymie’s Records, a famed spot for vinyl in Minneapolis, is for sale. The owners are pledging to sell it only to someone who wants to keep the music spinning there. One of the Twin Cities’ best-loved record stores is for sale, but the owners are pledging to sell it only to someone who wants to keep the music spinning there. Dave and Laura Hoenack, who bought Hymie’s Records in Minneapolis nine years ago, want to spend more time with their two kids. So they are fielding offers to sell their vinyl specialty store, located on a revived stretch of East Lake Street in south Minneapolis. They are not interested in just liquidating their stock of vinyl records, however. “I want to still be able to go to a neighborhood record store in my own neighborhood,” Dave Hoenack said.

Abbeyleix, IE | Vinyl record party night to raise funds in Abbeyleix: Fans of vinyl records and people looking for a fun night in Abbeyleix are welcome to a fundraising party this weekend. Abbeyleix Heritage House has lined up a DJ to spin vinyl records at a fundraising party. You can bring some favourites from you own collection to add to the mix. Finger food will be provided but bring your own wine or preferred tipple. Entry fee is €10 and can be paid in advance or on the night. Please contact 057 8731653 for more information. The event takes place on Saturday, July 28 from 8 pm

Cuyahoga Falls, OH | Pekar Music celebrates 20th anniversary in Cuyahoga Falls: …After nearly 30 years of working for someone else, Pekar said he decided he wanted to be his own boss. He first opened his shop on Portage Trail between Third and Fourth streets. When he opened his doors he had six guitars and $600 worth of S.I.T. brand guitar strings (made in Akron) hanging on the wall, along with some posters. He also had some record albums. Rent was $400 a month for 1,500 square feet of space. “I had $600 in the bank and I was wondering how I was going to pay the UPS driver,” he said. “The UPS trucks were pulling up with merchandise and I had to pay them [cash] because I wasn’t established … at that time.”

Spartanburg, SC | Sound Observations: Thrift shop record find is a vintage Kieran Kane LP: There was a time when I’d regularly scour record bins at thrift shops in search of vintage LPs. That rarely happens anymore…A few weeks ago, however, I was reminded of why I still visit thrift shops from time to time and why it’s still worth taking at least a cursory glance of what the record bins have to offer. As I casually flipped through an assortment of records at a local thrift shop, I was struck by the image of a young Kieran Kane seemingly staring right at my face. In my low-expectation haste, I think I actually flipped past the record sleeve and was forced to thumb backward for a double-take to make sure the image was indeed of Kane. Once I realized for sure that it was his mug, I anxiously pulled the vinyl record from the sleeve and carefully inspected it to make sure it wasn’t scratched or warped. Thankfully, it wasn’t.